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Susan Boyle pays tribute to loyal fans

By
NIALL O'DOWD,
IrishCentral.com Publisher

Published Monday, November 23, 2009, 11:18 AM
Updated Tuesday, November 24, 2009, 2:13 PM

 

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The incredible Susan Boyle
The incredible Susan Boyle

I've seen starstruck fans in my time, but the hundreds of Susan Boyle fans who crammed into the Rock restaurant at Rockefeller Center after her NBC performance this morning beat the best of them.

Unfortunately I got there late because of the crowds and missed the beginning of the event.

Dressed in their red outfits and carrying Susan CDs and scarves, the fans gave a hero's welcome to the Scottish star as she entered the restaurant and sat down for breakfast with them.

Around a circular table she was presented with the quilt which was lovingly stitched and patched together by fans from all over the country.

She seemed overwhelmed with the gift and at one point I think wiped a tear from her eye. 

It was certainly a wonderful way to show her how much her American fan base adores her.

She is smaller and younger-looking in person, but carried herself with confidence and class throughout. She has clearly come to be far more at ease with her fame and bantered with her fans.

Her debut album will certainly up that fame into the stratosphere.

At one point she even did her famous swivel for her fans and gave every appearance of loving the interaction between them and her.

She kissed a Scottish gentleman bedecked in a kilt and was completely relaxed and at ease. 

Many had traveled from all over the country to be with her and she took time and was incredibly gracious with them all.

Afterwards as the fans piled out, an area was set aside for a Susan photograph with the fans. They all gathered together in a sea of red with Susan in the middle to make a wonderful souvenir photograph of a special occasion.

I also had a brief moment to shake her hand and congratulate her on her extraordinary success.

It was quite a moment.

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Posted by winship1716 on Nov 30, 2009, 02:13 AM EST
she was great i havent seen any other star be as nice to their fans as she is she is very classy and just a lovely person we all love her
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Posted by neely12 on Nov 25, 2009, 12:59 PM EST
My New York trip to see Susan was Fantastic and well worth it! Susan was a delight and very gracious. My hope for her is all the best in the years to come. Patty from Ohio
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Posted by graysea on Nov 25, 2009, 03:57 AM EST
Hi Niall, I am sorry I missed you at the restaurant. We must have crossed paths. However, I did get to shake Susan's hand and get into the fan picture with Susan. I also got to hear her sing and see her on stage. I waved to her through a door, and she waved back. What a wonderful time I had. Susan sang 3 songs (twice) and it was absolutely amazing. She was so relaxed. The sign of a pure professional singing star who knows how to sing a song.
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Posted by ChrisinPAUSA on Nov 24, 2009, 11:43 PM EST
We were hopng to meet you at the Scottish restaurant or at the brunch Mr. O'Dowd. Susan is so pretty and funny. I was lucky enough to be there. Thanks always for what you write about her. You are our hero!
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Posted by phyll50211 on Nov 24, 2009, 11:59 AM EST
Thank you for your positive and loving comments re Susan. Yesterday re the concert and always. I was hoping to meet you, as I was the one who designed and embroidered your square. The quilt represents all the continents, all the US. Blessings to you. Phyllis
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Posted by lorias1228 on Nov 24, 2009, 04:15 AM EST
New Susan Boyle first hand report from the today show posted: http://indianasusanboylefan.blogspot.com/
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Posted by JolyJoly on Nov 23, 2009, 11:47 PM EST
I would have loved to have been there for the presentation of the quilt. It was wonderful of Susan to take the time to be with her fans, and I'm glad you were able to get through the traffic to be there. Hopefully all the love that was sewn into her quilt and Pebbles' (because there are two, as well as a Susan and a Pebbles afghan yet coming) will emanate from them all her life. Thanks for joining in the quilt project Niall, it will mean a great deal to her.
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Posted by astonished on Nov 23, 2009, 09:04 PM EST
Having been one of the contributors to the quilt, I feel as though I have had a small part in this amazing day. Thank you for all your support and to all the fans.
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Posted by eagleflight on Nov 23, 2009, 07:17 PM EST
I wanted so bad to go, but seeing it on the today show helped! I thought sh looked beautiful! So glad to see her cut up a little. I deeply appreciate the fans who lovingly made the quilt! Hey Niall, I'm surprise you didn't try to steal a kiss from our Lady Susan! Thank you for the great report,
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Posted by harveen44 on Nov 23, 2009, 03:16 PM EST
What a wonderful report! Mr. O'Dowd you must be one special guy. All of Susan's fans appreciate the positive comments. She is one of a kind and her album is absolutely fantastic.
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Posted by GritsTX on Nov 23, 2009, 03:00 PM EST
Niall - how wonderful that you could be there. Multiply the fans you experienced by hundreds - 'cuz there are a great number of us that could not be there! Thank you for reporting on it in a way that makes me feel like I was there, but you see, I was, in spirit. Susan's adoring fan in Texas ~Jeanenne
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Posted by dublingausafan on Nov 23, 2009, 02:54 PM EST
glad to have driven over 900 miles from dublin,GA to see and hear Susan Boyle. She has a delightful personality. Her voice was even better in person. She was so kind to us- her fans. Loved her humorous remarks before and during and after the concert. "early to get loaded" as she sipped between songs during her warm-up. and with her red scarf"shimmy.shimmy" as she wiggled to the crowd ..During the brunch everytime Piersey baby was mentioned she did that wiggle. she grinned cackled-blew kisses waved to her fans.
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Posted by KerstinS on Nov 23, 2009, 02:44 PM EST
Niall or Whoever wrote this; We were 26 countries contributing in that quilt...... As far reached as Antartica! My HEART goes to Susan Boyle! Kerstin - one of the square ones - from Sweden, Scandinavia
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Posted by Carnegie61 on Nov 23, 2009, 02:35 PM EST
Mr. O'Dowd, thank you for all of your positive reporting on our wonderful Susan. So glad you were able to finally meet her.
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Posted by clams730 on Nov 23, 2009, 02:03 PM EST
Thank your so much for the reporting. Your shanking hands and congratulating to our Lady Susan were also for us her loyal fans who were unable to be there.
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Posted by Nounours on Nov 23, 2009, 02:02 PM EST
WOW, that's sounds just wonderful and must have been a terrific moment for everybody present.
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Posted by missouri4susan on Nov 23, 2009, 01:24 PM EST
Thank you Mr. O'Dowd. What a wonderful experience this must have been. I also was part of this quilt of love. Thank you for being our voice and helping Susan with your support. What a professional Susan has become. It was great to see her so happy and relaxed.
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Posted by carol0911 on Nov 23, 2009, 12:58 PM EST
I am so glad you got to meet her and to see first hand a demonstration of "Boylemania"! You have been squarely in her corner from the first and it was often against the media tide, thank you for that.
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Posted by FromAsia on Nov 23, 2009, 12:56 PM EST
Wonderful wonderful news and so exciting. Will watch the video at night.
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Posted by Lonnirose on Nov 23, 2009, 12:46 PM EST
Wonderful article, Niall, and I'm so glad you had the privilege of meeting our beloved Scottish Nightingale. I know the fans from our fansite have to be absolutely over the moon, having the joyous opportunity to meet our dear Susan and present her the quilt on which they have worked so hard these many months. Sounds like a wonderful time was had by all, and most of all I love knowing Susan is happy.
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Posted by jayhawk on Nov 23, 2009, 12:24 PM EST
Thank you Mr. O'Dowd! As one of the participants in the quilt project am so happy she finally got it. Actually fans from all across the world made squares for the quilt and a lady in Texas sewed them all together and made it so beautiful. We have made many friends from across the world from working on the quilt...it was so much fun! Hope we get to see a video of her getting it! Thanks for all your support of Susan....we love reading your articles about her and yes our memebers in New York represented all our memebers really well today with all their red scarfs!
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Posted by RetInKalifornia on Nov 23, 2009, 12:19 PM EST
Mr. O'Dowd, "better late than never" works here also! I did see Susan perform via Internet video feed this morning; her three performances - the first before a live U.S.A. audience on live U.S.A. national TV AND the first time Susan sang more than two songs in succession since her BGT debut on April 11th were magnificant and true landmarks in contemporary popular music. Susan herself has set a new standard for live performing: simple, direct and most importantly, in VERY close proximity of her adoring fans. The crowd was enthusiastic and respectfull in allowing her to perform her songs without boisterous interruption; her main audience is perhaps the most musically sophisticated in history with decades of experience & knowledge to critically assess her singing, something professional music critics SHOULD recognize in writes ups about her singing. Susan's mark on the popular music landscape has been made and it isn't going to fade anytime soon here!
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Posted by CanadianBill on Nov 23, 2009, 12:16 PM EST
Niall, what a story, is it not?! Many of the fans you mention are friends, members of Susan-Boyle.com Forum Fansite, and what a thrill for them, and all of us. Best of all was to see Susan so happy, she was and now is without a doubt, the 'professional singer' she always wanted to be. Thanks for keeping the faith Niall. We really needed you!
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Posted by patriciasart on Nov 23, 2009, 12:14 PM EST
Wow! THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL. I look forward to seeing the pictures !
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Posted by xeno000 on Nov 23, 2009, 12:13 PM EST
Congratulations on meeting Susan, Niall! You've written so many wonderful columns about her that it's fitting you had the chance to greet her in New York. I'm happy for you and fans who were privileged to be there. Seeing how Susan enjoyed the reception she received was inspiring to me. How great to know that the support of her fans has made her so happy.
 


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